belly of the beast
Heart of peril
The belly of the beast is the heart or center of a threatening or hostile place—the most dangerous or problematic part of something you're confronting.
The phrase evokes being swallowed by a monster, suggesting you've entered enemy territory or the core of a difficult situation: She took a job at the corporation to fight corruption from the belly of the beast.
- perilSerious threat of harm
- enemy territoryArea controlled by opponents
- crucibleVessel for extreme heat
- machinePower-driven working device
- abyssImmeasurably profound depth
maelstrom · bureaucracy · lion's den · behind enemy lines · war zone · under fire · labyrinth · leviathan · battleground · ground zero · empire · inner sanctum · inner circle · inside job · dystopia · snake pit · vulnerability · inferno
belly of the beastsafe haven
Protected place of shelter
sanctuary · safety · refuge · safe harbor · comfort zone
belly of the beasthome turf
One's established domain
home base · on the outside looking in · neutral ground · no man's land · the periphery
belly of the beastin the driver's seat
Having control or authority
in control · holding the reins · on top of the world · calling the shots · above the fray
belly, beast, bellies, bellied, beasts, beastly, beastliness